North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S391 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 1
4		-	SENATE BILL 391
	3	+	S D
	4	+	SENATE BILL DRS15166-MW-58
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: DOT Omnibus. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Senators Rabon, Sawyer, and Lazzara (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	Referred to: ~~Rules and Operations of the Senate~~
10		-	~~March 25, 2025~~
11		-	~~S391 -v-1~~
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRS15166 -MW-58
12	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	14		AN ACT TO REVISE LAWS CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF 2
14	15		TRANSPORTATION. 3
15	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
16	17		5
17	18		REGULATION OF DRIVERS EDUCATION OFFERED BY COMMERCIAL DRIVER 6
18	19		TRAINING SCHOOLS 7
19	20		SECTION 1. G.S. 20-322 reads as rewritten: 8
20	21		"§ 20-322. Licenses for schools necessary; regulations as to requirements. 9
21	22		(a) No commercial driver training school shall be established nor any such existing 10
22	23		school be continued on or after July 1, 1965, unless such school applies for and obtains from the 11
23	24		Commissioner a license in the manner and form prescribed by the Commissioner. 12
24	25		(b) Regulations adopted by the Commissioner shall state the requirements for a school 13
25	26		license, including requirements concerning location, equipment, courses of instruction, 14
26	27		instructors, financial statements, schedule of fees and charges, character and reputation of the 15
27	28		operators, insurance, bond or other security in such sum and with such provisions as the 16
28	29		Commissioner deems necessary to protect adequately the interests of the public, and such other 17
29	30		matters as the Commissioner may prescribe. A driver education course offered to prepare an 18
30	31		individual for a limited learner's permit or another provisional license must meet the requirements 19
31	32		set in G.S. 115C-215 for the program of driver education offered in the public schools. 20
32	33		(c) Regulations adopted by the Commissioner for the course of instruction to be offered 21
33	34		by commercial driver training schools to prepare an individual for a limited learner's permit or 22
34	35		another provisional license must include, but are not limited to, the curriculum requirements in 23
35	36		G.S. 115C-215(b). 24
36	37		(d) In addition to regulations adopted by the Commissioner under subsection (c) of this 25
37	38		section, commercial driver training schools providing courses to prepare an individual for a 26
38	39		limited learner's permit or another provisional license through the public schools must meet all 27
39	40		requirements set in G.S. 115C-215 for the program of driver education offered in the public 28
40	41		schools." 29
41	42		30
42	43		DEALER LICENSE RENEWAL FIX 31
43	44		SECTION 2. G.S. 20-288(b2), as enacted by Section 27(a) of S.L. 2024-30, reads 32
44	45		as rewritten: 33
45	46		"(b2) For a licensed dealer, manufacturer, factory branch, distributor, distributor branch, or 34
46	47		wholesaler applying for renewal, the death of a co-owner in the licensed business entity shall not 35
47		-	be considered a change of ownership for purposes of licensure, as long as the business entity has 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 391-First Edition
	48	+	be considered a change of ownership for purposes of licensure, as long as the business entity has 36
	49	+	FILED SENATE
	50	+	Mar 24, 2025
	51	+	S.B. 391
	52	+	PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	53	+	Page 2 DRS15166-MW-58
49	54		no new co-owners or changes in structure of the business entity. The applicant a change in 1
50	55		ownership is not grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, as long as any new 2
51	56		owner is otherwise qualified for licensure and approved by the Division. The licensee shall be 3
52	57		considered by the Division to be a continuing business for purposes of renewal and shall not be 4
53	58		required to apply for a license as a new business." 5
54	59		6
55	60		CHANGE CASH BALANCE REQUIREMENT TO CASH ON HAND 7
56	61		SECTION 3. G.S. 143C-6-11(f) and (k) read as rewritten: 8
57	62		"(f) Seven and One Half Percent (7.5%) Cash Balance Required. – The Department of 9
58	63		Transportation shall maintain an available cash balance at the end of each month to an amount 10
59	64		equal to at least seven and one half percent (7.5%) a minimum of 45 days of the total 11
60	65		appropriations for the current fiscal year from the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund. 12
61	66		In projecting cash balances in future years, the Department shall use the estimated cash flow as 13
62	67		specified in the Current Operations Appropriation Act. No further transportation project contract 14
63	68		commitment may be entered into that would cause the cash position to fall below this 15
64	69		requirement. In the event this cash position is not maintained, no further transportation project 16
65	70		contract commitments may be entered into until the cash balance has been regained. Provided 17
66	71		the Department may modify or supplement transportation contract commitments for existing 18
67	72		transportation projects that (i) result in a savings from the total estimated project cost of the 19
68	73		existing commitment, based on a cost-savings analysis, or (ii) relate to the needs of an existing 20
69	74		transportation project to continue. Any federal funds on hand shall not be considered as cash for 21
70	75		the purposes of this subsection. 22
71	76		… 23
72	77		(k) The Department of Transportation shall do all of the following: 24
73	78		(1) Utilize cash flow financing to the extent possible to fund transportation 25
74	79		projects with the goal of reducing the combined average daily cash balance of 26
75	80		the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund to an amount equal to between 27
76	81		fifteen and twenty percent (15-20%) 75 and 120 days of the total 28
77	82		appropriations for the current fiscal year from those funds. In projecting cash 29
78	83		balances in future years, the Department shall use the estimated cash flow as 30
79	84		specified in the Current Operations Appropriation Act. Any federal funds on 31
80	85		hand shall not be considered as cash for the purposes of this subsection. The 32
81	86		target amount shall include an amount necessary to make all municipal-aid 33
82	87		funding requirements of the Department. 34
83	88		…." 35
84	89		36
85	90		REGISTRATION OF RIGHT -OF-WAY PLANS 37
86	91		SECTION 4. G.S. 136-19.4 reads as rewritten: 38
87	92		"§ 136-19.4. Registration of right-of-way plans. 39
88	93		(a) A copy of the cover sheet and plan and profile sheets of the final right-of-way plans 40
89	94		for all Department of Transportation projects, on those projects for which plans are prepared, 41
90	95		under which right-of-way or other interest in real property is acquired or access is controlled shall 42
91	96		be certified by the Department of Transportation to the register of deeds of the county or counties 43
92	97		within which the project is located. The Department shall certify said plan sheets to the register 44
93	98		of deeds within two weeks from their formal approval by the Board of Transportation.The 45
94	99		Department shall certify the plan sheets with the register of deeds at the completion of the project. 46
95	100		(b) The copy of the plans certified to the register of deeds shall consist of a Xerox, 47
96	101		photographic, or other permanent copy, except for plans electronically transmitted pursuant to 48
97	102		subsection (b1) of this section, and shall measure approximately 17 inches by 11 inches including 49
98	103		no less than one and one-half inches binding space on the left-hand side. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
99		-	~~Senate Bill 391-First Edition~~ Page 3
	104	+	DRS15166-MW-58 Page 3
100	105		(b1) With the approval of the county in which the right-of-way plans are to be filed, the 1
101	106		Department may transmit the plans electronically. 2
102	107		(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in the law, upon receipt of said original certified 3
103	108		copy of the right-of-way plans, the register of deeds shall record said right-of-way plans and 4
104	109		place the same in a book maintained for that purpose, and the register of deeds shall maintain a 5
105	110		cross-index to said right-of-way plans by number of road affected, if any, and by identification 6
106	111		number. No probate before the clerk of the superior court shall be required. 7
107	112		(d) If after the approval of said final right-of-way plans the Board of Transportation shall 8
108	113		by resolution alter or amend said right-of-way or control of access, the Department of 9
109	114		Transportation, within two weeks from the adoption by the Board of Transportation of said 10
110	115		alteration or amendment, shall certify to the register of deeds in the county or counties within 11
111	116		which the project is located a copy of the amended plan and profile sheets approved by the Board 12
112	117		of Transportation and the register of deeds shall remove the original plan sheets and record the 13
113	118		amended plan sheets in lieu thereof. 14
114	119		(e) The register of deeds in each county shall collect a fee from the Department of 15
115	120		Transportation for recording right-of-way plans and profile sheets in the amount set out in 16
116	121		G.S. 161-10." 17
117	122		18
118	123		ELIMINATE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 19
119	124		SECTION 5. G.S. 136-89.193 reads as rewritten: 20
120	125		"§ 136-89.193. Annual plan of work; annual and quarterly reports.report. 21
121	126		(a) Annual Plan of Work. – The Authority shall annually develop a plan of work for the 22
122	127		fiscal year, describing the activities and projects to be undertaken, accompanied by a budget. 23
123	128		This annual plan of work shall be subject to the concurrence of the Board of Transportation. 24
124	129		(b) Annual Reports. Report. – The Authority shall, promptly following the close of each 25
125	130		fiscal year, submit an annual report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year and an annual 26
126	131		audit of its books and accounts for the preceding fiscal year to the Governor, the General 27
127	132		Assembly, and the Department of Transportation. The report and audit shall be submitted no later 28
128	133		than October 31 of the fiscal year in which the report and audit are completed. 29
129	134		The North Carolina Turnpike Authority shall report to the Joint Legislative Transportation 30
130	135		Oversight Committee on January 31, 2017, and in its annual report thereafter, the number of 31
131	136		one-time toll facility users who are charged more than fifty dollars ($50.00) in processing fees 32
132	137		imposed under G.S. 136-89.215 and civil penalties assessed under G.S. 136-89.216. 33
133	138		(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2016-90, s. 4, effective July 11, 2016. 34
134	139		(d) Report Prior to Let of Contracts. – The Authority shall consult with and report to the 35
135	140		Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Joint Legislative Commission on 36
136	141		Governmental Operations prior to the letting of any contract for Turnpike Project construction 37
137	142		authorized under G.S. 136-183(a)(2). 38
138	143		(e) Repealed by Session Laws 2011-145, s. 28.35(a), effective July 1, 2011." 39
139	144		40
140	145		TURNPIKE UNPAID TOLL NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC MAIL 41
141	146		SECTION 6. G.S. 136-89.214(a) reads as rewritten: 42
142	147		"(a) Bill. – If a motor vehicle travels on a Turnpike project that uses an open road tolling 43
143	148		system and a toll for traveling on the project is not paid prior to travel or at the time of travel, the 44
144	149		Authority must send a bill by first-class mail to the registered owner of the motor vehicle or the 45
145	150		person who had care, custody, and control of the vehicle as established under G.S. 136-89.212(b) 46
146	151		for the amount of the unpaid toll; provided, however, that with the written consent of the 47
147	152		registered owner of the motor vehicle or the person who had care, custody, and control of the 48
148	153		vehicle as set forth above, the Authority may send the bill via electronic mail to a designated 49
149	154		electronic mail account or electronic mail account on file with a state Department of Motor 50
150	155		Vehicles rather than by first-class mail. The Authority must send the bill within 90 days after the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
151		-	Page 4 ~~Senate Bill 391-First Edition~~
	156	+	Page 4 DRS15166-MW-58
152	157		travel occurs, or within 90 days of receipt of a sworn affidavit submitted under 1
153	158		G.S. 136-89.212(b) identifying the person who had care, custody, and control of the motor 2
154	159		vehicle. If a bill is not sent within the required time, the Authority waives collection of the toll. 3
155	160		The Authority must establish a billing period for unpaid open road tolls that is no shorter than 15 4
156	161		days. A bill for a billing period must include all unpaid tolls incurred by the same person during 5
157	162		the billing period." 6
158	163		7
159	164		REMOVE LIMIT ON TURNPIKE PROJECTS 8
160	165		SECTION 7. G.S. 136-89.183(a)(2) reads as rewritten: 9
161	166		"(2) To study, plan, develop, and undertake preliminary design work on Turnpike 10
162	167		Projects. At the conclusion of these activities, the Turnpike Authority is 11
163	168		authorized to design, establish, purchase, construct, operate, and maintain no 12
164	169		more than eleven projects, which shall include include, but not be limited to, 13
165	170		the following: 14
166	171		a. Triangle Expressway, including segments also known as N.C. 540, 15
167	172		Triangle Parkway, Phases 1 and 2 of Complete 540, and the Western 16
168	173		Wake Freeway in Wake and Durham Counties. The described 17
169	174		segments constitute one project. 18
170	175		b. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-183, s. 5.1, effective July 1, 2013. 19
171	176		c. Monroe Connector/Bypass. 20
172	177		d., e. Repealed by Session Laws 2013-183, s. 5.1, effective July 1, 2013. 21
173	178		f. Repealed by Session Laws 2008-225, s. 4, effective August 17, 2008. 22
174	179		Any other project proposed by the Authority in addition to the projects listed 23
175	180		in this subdivision requires prior consultation with the Joint Legislative 24
176	181		Commission on Governmental Operations pursuant to G.S. 120-76.1 no less 25
177	182		than 180 days prior to initiating the process required by Article 7 of Chapter 26
178	183		159 of the General Statutes. 27
179	184		With the exception of the two projects set forth in sub subdivisions a. and c. 28
180	185		of this subdivision, the Turnpike projects selected for construction by the 29
181	186		Turnpike Authority, prior to the letting of a contract for the project, shall meet 30
182	187		the following conditions: (i) two of the projects must be ranked in the top 35 31
183	188		based on total score on the Department produced list entitled "Mobility Fund 32
184	189		Project Scores" dated June 6, 2012, and, in addition, may be subject to 33
185	190		G.S. 136-18(39a); (ii) of the projects not ranked as provided in (i), one may 34
186	191		be subject to G.S. 136-18(39a); (iii) the projects shall be included in any 35
187	192		applicable locally adopted comprehensive transportation plans; (iv) the 36
188	193		projects shall be shown in the current State Transportation Improvement 37
189	194		Program; and (v) toll projects must be approved by all affected Metropolitan 38
190	195		Planning Organizations and Rural Transportation Planning Organizations for 39
191	196		tolling." 40
192	197		41
193	198		CLARIFY USE OF REVENUE FROM TURNPIKE PROJECTS 42
194	199		SECTION 8. G.S. 136-89.188(a) reads as rewritten: 43
195	200		"(a) Revenues derived from a Turnpike Project authorized under this Article shall be used 44
196	201		only for the following costs associated with the Project from which the revenue was derived or a 45
197	202		planned contiguous toll facility:facility identified in a transportation plan adopted by an affected 46
198	203		Metropolitan Planning Organization: 47
199	204		(1) Authority administration costs. 48
200	205		(2) Development, right-of-way acquisition, design, construction, expansion, 49
201	206		operation, maintenance, reconstruction, rehabilitation, and replacement costs. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	~~Senate Bill 391-First Edition~~ Page 5
	207	+	DRS15166-MW-58 Page 5
203	208		(3) Debt service on the Authority's revenue bonds or related purposes such as the 1
204	209		establishment of debt service reserve funds. 2
205	210		(4) Debt service, debt service reserve funds, and other financing costs related to 3
206	211		any of the following: 4
207	212		a. A financing undertaken by a private entity under a partnership 5
208	213		agreement with the entity for the Project. 6
209	214		b. Private activity bonds issued under law related to the Project. 7
210	215		c. Any federal or State loan, line of credit, or loan guarantee relating to 8
211	216		the Project. 9
212	217		(5) A return on investment of any private entity under a partnership agreement 10
213	218		with the entity for the Project. 11
214	219		(6) Any other uses granted to a private entity under a partnership agreement with 12
215	220		the entity for the Project." 13
216	221		14
217	222		REVISIONS TO BRIDGE PROGRAM OUTSOURCING 15
218	223		SECTION 9. G.S. 136-76.2(c) reads as rewritten: 16
219	224		"(c) Outsourcing. – Except for the following activities, all projects funded under the bridge 17
220	225		program established under subsection (a) of this section shall be outsourced to private 18
221	226		contractors: 19
222	227		(1) Inspection. 20
223	228		(2) Pre-engineering. 21
224	229		(3) Contract preparation. 22
225	230		(4) Contract administration and oversight. 23
226	231		(5) Planning activities. 24
227	232		(6) Installation of culverts and structures described in subsection (b) of this 25
228	233		section, but only in cases of emergency.section on low volume or non-outlet 26
229	234		roads." 27
230	235		28
231	236		EXEMPT FERRY DIVISION FROM TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS PROGRAM 29
232	237		SECTION 10. G.S. 126-6.3(a) reads as rewritten: 30
233	238		"(a) Use of Temporary Solutions Required for Cabinet Agencies. – Notwithstanding 31
234	239		G.S. 126-5 or any other provision of law, all Cabinet agencies that utilize temporary employees 32
235	240		to perform work that is not information technology-related shall employ them through the 33
236	241		Temporary Solutions Program administered by the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR). 34
237	242		Council of State agencies may use the Temporary Solutions Program in the discretion of the 35
238	243		agency. The Department of Transportation, Ferry Division, is exempt from the required use of 36
239	244		the Temporary Solutions Program when there is an established need for peak season hires or 37
240	245		when the work requires a specific skill set beyond the scope of temporary employees." 38
241	246		39
242	247		MODIFY STIP REPORTING AND LOCAL CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS 40
243	248		SECTION 11. G.S. 136-12 reads as rewritten: 41
244	249		"§ 136-12. Reports to General Assembly; Transportation Improvement Program posted 42
245	250		and submitted to members and staff of General Assembly. 43
246	251		(a) The Department of Transportation shall shall, on or before the tenth day after the 44
247	252		convening of each regular session of the General Assembly, make a full printed and detailed 45
248	253		report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee by March 1 of each year on 46
249	254		how the previous fiscal year's funds for the General Assembly that includes the cost of 47
250	255		maintenance and construction were allocated and expended. The work undertaken by the 48
251	256		Department, receipts of license fees, disbursements of the Department, and other financial 49
252	257		information relevant to illustrate the Department's financial condition during the previous fiscal 50
253	258		year. For maintenance and construction work undertaken by the Department, the report shall also 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
254		-	Page 6 ~~Senate Bill 391-First Edition~~
	259	+	Page 6 DRS15166-MW-58
255	260		include expenditures of both State and federal funds and shall be in sufficient detail that the 1
256	261		county can be identified. A full account of each road project shall be kept by and under the 2
257	262		direction of the Department of Transportation or its representatives, to ascertain at any time the 3
258	263		expenditures and the liabilities against all projects; also records of contracts and force account 4
259	264		work. The account records, together with all supporting documents, shall be open at all times to 5
260	265		the inspection of the Governor or road authorities of any county, or their authorized 6
261	266		representatives, and copies thereof shall be furnished such officials upon request. 7
262	267		…." 8
263	268		9
264	269		AUTHORIZE ELECTRONIC PAYMENT TRANSACTION FEE FOR FERRIES 10
265	270		SECTION 12. G.S. 136-82 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
266	271		"(b3) Transaction Fee Authorized for Electronic Payment. – When the Department of 12
267	272		Transportation accepts electronic payment, as that term is defined in G.S. 147-86.20, for any toll 13
268	273		or fee authorized under this Article, the Department may add a transaction fee to each electronic 14
269	274		payment transaction to offset the service charge the Department pays for electronic payment 15
270	275		service. The transaction fee authorized under this subsection shall not exceed two percent (2%) 16
271	276		of the electronic payment." 17
272	277		18
273	278		MODIFICATIONS TO PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE ACQUISITION AND 19
274	279		CONDEMNATION OF PROPERTY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 20
275	280		SECTION 13.(a) G.S. 136-108 reads as rewritten: 21
276	281		"§ 136-108. Determination of issues other than damages. 22
277	282		(a) After the filing of the plat, the judge, upon motion and 10 days' notice by either the 23
278	283		Department of Transportation or the owner, shall, either in or out of term, hear and determine 24
279	284		any and all issues raised by the pleadings other than the issue of damages, including, but not 25
280	285		limited to, if controverted, questions of necessary and proper parties, title to the land, interest 26
281	286		taken, and area taken. 27
282	287		(b) The effect of the imposition of easements, including, but not limited to, permanent 28
283	288		utility easements, aerial utility easements, permanent drainage easements, permanent drainage 29
284	289		utility easements, temporary construction easements, temporary drainage easements, temporary 30
285	290		utility easements, and slope easements, is an issue of damages and shall not be subject to 31
286	291		consideration pursuant to this section." 32
287	292		SECTION 13.(b) G.S. 136-112 reads as rewritten: 33
288	293		"§ 136-112. Measure of damages. 34
289	294		The following shall be the measure of damages to be followed by the commissioners, jury or 35
290	295		judge who determines the issue of damages: 36
291	296		(1) Where only a part of a tract is taken, the measure of damages for said taking 37
292	297		shall be the difference between the fair market value of the entire tract 38
293	298		immediately prior to said taking and the fair market value of the remainder 39
294	299		immediately after said taking, with consideration being given to any special 40
295	300		or general benefits resulting from the utilization of the part taken for highway 41
296	301		purposes. 42
297	302		(2) Where the entire tract is taken the measure of damages for said taking shall be 43
298	303		the fair market value of the property at the time of taking. 44
299	304		(3) Evidence of the damages resulting from the imposition of easements, 45
300	305		including, but not limited to, permanent utility easements, aerial utility 46
301	306		easements, permanent drainage easements, permanent drainage utility 47
302	307		easements, temporary construction easements, temporary drainage easements, 48
303	308		temporary utility easements, and slope easements, shall not be presumed to be 49
304	309		based on the Department of Transportation exercising its rights to the fullest 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
305		-	~~Senate Bill 391-First Edition~~ Page 7
	310	+	DRS15166-MW-58 Page 7
306	311		extent of the law but shall be based on consideration of the project plans and 1
307	312		other admissible market evidence." 2
308	313		SECTION 13.(c) G.S. 136-89.52 reads as rewritten: 3
309	314		"§ 136-89.52. Acquisition of property and property rights. 4
310	315		(a) For the purposes of this Article, the Department of Transportation may acquire private 5
311	316		or public property and property rights for controlled-access facilities and service or frontage 6
312	317		roads, including rights of access, air, view and light, by gift, devise, purchase, or condemnation 7
313	318		in the same manner as now or hereafter authorized by law to acquire such property or property 8
314	319		rights in connection with highways. The property rights acquired under the provisions of this 9
315	320		Article may be in fee simple or an appropriate easement for right-of-way in perpetuity. In 10
316	321		connection with the acquisition of property or property rights for any controlled-access facility 11
317	322		or portion thereof, or frontage road in connection therewith, the Department of Transportation 12
318	323		may, in its discretion, with the consent of the landowner, acquire an entire lot, parcel, or tract of 13
319	324		land, if by so doing, the interests of the public will be best served, even though said entire lot, 14
320	325		parcel, or tract is not immediately needed for the right-of-way proper. 15
321	326		(b) Along new controlled-access highway locations, abutting property owners shall not 16
322	327		be entitled to access to such new locations, and no abutter's easement of access to such new 17
323	328		locations shall attach to said property. Where part of a tract of land is taken or acquired for the 18
324	329		construction of a controlled-access facility on a new location, the nature of the facility 19
325	330		constructed on the part taken, including the fact that there shall be no direct access thereto, shall 20
326	331		be considered in determining the fair market value of the remaining property immediately after 21
327	332		the taking. 22
328	333		(c) In no event shall the imposition of easements, including permanent utility easements, 23
329	334		aerial utility easements, permanent drainage easements, permanent drainage utility easements, 24
330	335		temporary construction easements, temporary drainage easements, temporary utility easements, 25
331	336		and slope easements, be construed to constitute the imposition of new control-of-access or the 26
332	337		taking of the property owner's abutters easement of access." 27
333	338		SECTION 13.(d) This section becomes effective July 31, 2025, and applies to causes 28
334	339		of action arising on or after that date. 29
335	340		30
336	341		EFFECTIVE DATE 31
337	342		SECTION 14. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 32
338	343		law. 33